So, without further ado, here are the five things you should make sure to do so your first week of university goes smoothly and you hit the ground running:

1. Check course and module details

This might sound like a bit of an obvious question, but what are you studying exactly? You will likely get some information outlining your course in advance, but if you’re not 100 per cent sure what your modules are going to be like, have a peek at your university website where there should be loads of details.

If you can’t find the information you need, don’t be afraid to give your school or faculty’s central office a ring; their job is to point you in the right direction. There are few ways to make a better impression on your professors than being clued up from the get go. Speaking of professors, if you want a head­start on who’s who, see if they’re listed on ratemyprofessors.co.uk. It’s like TripAdvisor, but for .professors. Clue’s in the name.

2. Make a budget

Sounds boring, yes, but unless you have deep-pocketed parents, the money that Student Finance puts into your bank account in mid­-September has to last you up until Christmas - it’s one big lump sum. At the very least, know how much your halls of residence fees are and square that away so you’re not caught short.

Even better, work out how many weeks you have to make the rest last for and set a weekly budget. Top tip: always pretend you have a little less than you actually have. Say, for example, you have £600 left for 12 weeks of food, books, and booze, set your budget for £45 instead of £50 a week so you have a small amount of wiggle room in an emergency.

If maths isn’t your strong suit, definitely check out getting a budgeting app like Toshl or You Need a Budget. They can be real lifesavers. Also, be smart with your money: keep an eye out for Facebook pages for secondhand books, or try AbeBooks to get any you need way cheaper than your local bookshop.

3. Make new friends

Make sure to meet your new roommates when you move in - you’re going to be spending a whole year with them after all, so it’s best to get off on the right foot. A great way to quickly bond with people in your halls is a night out at one of the numerous Freshers’ Week events that will be going on. Again, though, keep an eye on how much those Jägerbombs are costing.

Unless you’re a true party animal, don’t bother with the week­long wristbands outside companies sell that get you into a dozen places in the city: have a look in advance and book tickets to one or two nights that interest you to avoid spending money you don’t have to.

Also, take a look at the different clubs and societies your uni has to offer. Many universities host a Freshers’ Fair where all the societies gather in one place and advertise themselves, and it’s a great opportunity to check out what’s available. Many people make their best friends at uni by meeting like-minded people at societies. Just make sure you don’t get suckered into signing up to 100 different things at your Freshers’ Fair - societies often get bigger budgets the more people they have, so reps can get pretty pushy. Pick a few you’ll actually try out.

4. Meet your tutor

Often criminally under-utilised, everyone is assigned to a personal academic tutor or adviser who is your first port-of-call for all sorts of things, ranging from academic help to personal issues. If you’re not emailed by them asking to meet within the first week, find out who your tutor is, drop them a line, and ask to have a meeting. You don’t need a specific reason to go, even if you’re just feeling nervous about something and want to talk to someone in the know, they’re there to help.

Also, getting to know your tutor can help you far beyond your degree: upon leaving, many will be happy to provide academic or personal references to future employers. Even if you remain strangers throughout your time at uni, some tutors will answer some basic questions confirming your attendance to employers - but it’s clearly in your best interest to get to know them so they can best sing your praises.

5. Actually do some work!

With all the excitement of moving into a new place, meeting tons of new people, and the events aplenty you’ll want to go to, it’s easy to forget what you’re doing at uni. Good tutors will email you before your first class if there’s anything they want you to have read, but if not, have a look at the module details on your university’s website to double check. There’s nothing worse than being caught out on a reading or piece of work you haven’t done, and deadlines are just that - proper deadlines. If you’re a minute late on a submission without a good reason, you may get zero for that entire project.

If, once you’ve got more information on your modules and you’re not feeling too enthusiastic about your course, stick it out a week or two and see how things go. If you’re feeling like you might want to change which course you’re on - or even drop out entirely - make an appointment with your tutor or an adviser and they can talk things through with you.

Lastly, don’t panic about the workload. There’s a lot to do, but often more time to do it in than you’re used to from A-levels or the IB. Make sure you plan ahead, use that time effectively, and you’ll make things so much easier for yourself. And, bear in mind: most first­ year modules don’t actually count towards your final degree score - they’re more about setting up foundation knowledge for subsequent years. Because of this, some of your first ­year modules might be a bit routine, but you’ll likely get some free choice of modules in later years. Enjoy your relatively consequence-free first year while it lasts.

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